Chinese medicine for pulmonary fibrosis: A bibliometric review from 2005 to 2023

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) plays a notable role in the worldwide burden of illness and death. Pinpointing the precise frequency and prevalence of this ailment presents a formidable challenge. Meanwhile, pulmonary fibrosis emerges as the advanced stage of various interstitial lung ailments, encompassing the idiopathic interstitial pneumonias. PF is a persistent and gradually progressing interstitial lung disorder originating from diverse underlying factors. It is characterized by the accumulation of inflammatory cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes within the alveoli. This is accompanied by the multiplication and conversion of fibroblasts, leading to an excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) within the pulmonary interstitial space. Ultimately, this cascade of events instigates noteworthy modifications in the structure of the inherent lung tissue (1, 2). Within the realm of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) takes the forefront as the most prevalent and deadly condition, boasting a median survival of 3–5 years post-diagnosis. The fibrosis seen in IPF generally follows a progressive course, proving unresponsive to current pharmaceutical interventions, and inevitably culminates in respiratory failure due to the obliteration of functional alveolar units. This condition becomes a pressing unmet medical necessity, necessitating urgently needed innovative and comprehensive therapeutic strategies.
METHODS: CiteSpace is utilized to create and assess networks composed of co-cited references, utilizing bibliographic records procured from the Web of Science. The functionality of the VOS viewer proves particularly advantageous in constructing visual representations of authors or journals based on co-citation data, as well as forming maps of keywords through the analysis of co-occurrence data (6). An initial search centered around the topics of "Chinese medicine" and "pulmonary fibrosis" yielded a total of 395 publications published between 2005 and 2023. Following the removal of duplicated entries and less representative types of records, including corrections, editorial materials, letters, meeting abstracts, news pieces, notes, and proceeding papers, the dataset was streamlined to encompass 389 original research articles and review papers. It's important to note that the compilation of 389 records excludes relevant publications in cases where the term "Chinese medicine" or "pulmonary fibrosis" does not explicitly appear within the titles, abstracts, or item descriptions.
RESULTS: A total of 389 publications were identified through a search conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection. The annual publication and citation figures are depicted in Figure 2. The overall pattern of both metrics reflects steady growth. Notably, during the years spanning 2007 to 2015, the yearly count of publications pertaining to Chinese medicine for PF exhibited fluctuations while largely remaining consistent. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, the count of English-language research articles and citations concerning Chinese medicine for PF remained consistently low. The most significant surge in publications occurred in 2022 (n=108), and likewise, the peak in citations was also recorded in 2022 (n=1141). This suggests an escalating interest in Chinese medicine for PF. The most remarkable shifts in citations were observed between 2020 and 2022, and in publications between 2019 and 2020, as well as between 2021 and 2022. Each of these ascending trends may signify a paradigm shift in recognizing the application of acupuncture therapy for asthma or the exploration of underlying mechanisms. The subsequent section will delve into a detailed analysis of each trend.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Utilizing data sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection spanning 2005 to 2023, a comprehensive compilation of 389 articles concerning Chinese medicine for PF found publication across 389 scholarly journals. These contributions were authored by 2334 individuals affiliated with 395 organizations hailing from 16 different countries or regions. The evident rise in publication volumes signifies an escalating focus on this subject, indicating a growing surge of interest in the field.
With an extensive history spanning over 5000 years, herbal medicine has held a central and pivotal role in medical practices across diverse regions of Asia. Hence, the extensive application of traditional and herbal medicine in addressing PF is entirely expected. The impact of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on PF therapy remains of paramount importance as it embodies the essence and significance for subsequent research endeavors. This pivotal role aligns seamlessly with the insights derived from the bibliometric analysis of co-cited references. The most extensive cluster, Cluster #0, comprises 47 members and boasts a silhouette value of 1. It is labeled as "traditional herbal medicine" by LLR, "how useful is traditional herbal medicine for pulmonary fibrosis?" according to LSI, and "pulmonary fibrosis" based on MI. A key referencing article within this cluster is authored by Yang, J (2009.0), titled "How useful is traditional herbal medicine for pulmonary fibrosis?"(19).